Traditional pictures such as angels blowing trumpets over a stable, Jesus in his manager, the shepherds and three wise men following the star to Bethlehem are dying out.

Instead, scenes of the Nativity has been replaced on cards by designs or jokes with little or no relevance to the Bible story and the true meaning of Christmas.

One 'offensive' card risked provoking Christians by suggesting the shepherds only saw the angel appear on the hillside because they were hallucinating after smoking drugs.

And another card ignores Christmas altogether - wishing the recipient a "Happy December".

Other designs include a pan of Brussels sprouts, a shoe, a woman pointing a gun at 'chavs', a moonlit bridge and, bizarrely, a line of meerkats.

Religious groups and MPs last night warned that the multi-million pound Christmas card industry was losing sight of the real reason for celebrating the festive period.

They also aired concerns that religious images were being scrubbed from cards because of political correctness and the fear of offending other faiths.

A Daily Mail survey of about 5,500 cards sold in well-known High Street stores, including WH Smith, Clinton Cards and Hallmark, found fewer than 70 – just over 1 per cent - had images linked to the Nativity.

Despite the vast majority carrying the word 'Christmas' - about 2,920, or 54%, of them on the front - many wished only 'Seasons Greetings' and others did not have a message.

Hundreds of cards avoided any image linked to Christmas at all – including fir trees, baubles, snowmen or Santa Claus.

Critics said card manufacturers and shops must not abandon British shoppers who wanted to celebrate the birth of Jesus on December 25.

A Church of England spokesman said: "Of course we can't tell shops what to stock or customers what to buy but it would be nice if more cards carrying messages reminding people of the birth of Christ were being made, bought and sent."

He said: "Several of my constituents have complained about how difficult it is to find cards conveying a message about the true meaning of Christmas.

"I'm sure one reason is because of do-gooders sitting in offices who decide that Christmas is offensive to other religions so they must scrub all Christian images.

"That notion is, frankly, ridiculous and offensive in itself."

Stephen Green, of the religious group Christian Voice – which forced TV bosses to scrap plans to show the ‘blasphemous’ musical Jerry Springer: The Opera – called for a boycott on irreligious cards.

He said: "It seems that those who design and manufacturer Christmas cards have forgotten its true meaning.

"It is very sad and the fact that so many cards barely allude to Christmas is very disquieting.

"The card that suggests the shepherds had been smoking strange substances is not just unfunny, it is also deeply offensive."

"People should go out of their way to buy proper Christmas cards and that may bring a bit of pressure on manufacturers and those who sell them."

As divorce rates soar and the traditional family breaks down, the cards industry is also cashing in with a range of products reflecting the

breakdown of traditional family relationships in the 21st century.

One reads: For A Special Mum and Your Partner. Another proclaims: You're Just Like A Daddy To Me.

The findings come as Christians feel increasingly under pressure to sideline their beliefs for fear of offending other faiths.

Dr John Sentamu, the Archbishop of York, last month hit out at Government departments sending Christmas cards wishing Seasons greetings, saying it was part of the 'systematic erosion' of Christianity in modern life.

The Royal Mail has faced criticism for axing the Bible story from its festive stamps and councils have been ridiculed for re-naming Christmas

"Winterval".

But last week Christian and Muslim leaders launched a battle to save the traditions of Christmas from politically-correct interference, warning that attempts to suppress it could spark a backlash against Muslims.

Worst examples of un-Christmassy Christmas cards...

1. Cartoon of two people, cosy in scarves and woolly hats, as snow falls. But Christmas is forgotten: "Have a December... to remember", it reads.

2. Pre-Second World War photo of a prim, proper woman looking down the barrel of a rifle with the caption: "It wasn't quite the same. Chavs were a

lot slower than foxes, but at least no-one complained."

3. Seven meerkats stand on their hind legs. One wobbles unsteadily. The banner reads: "It was obvious from the police line-up who had robbed the off-licence!"

4. Card to raise money for cancer charities features a photo of Westminster Bridge at night. Could have been taken in summer.

5. Photo of Brussels sprouts.

6. The traditional song "The 12 Days of Christmas" is replaced by "The 12 Days of Chav-mas". Instead of "11 Lords-a-leaping", "5 gold rings" and "a partridge in a pear tree", Burberry-clad yobs will enjoy "11 lagers swigging... 5 gold effect blings... and a Pot Noodle in front of the TV", it jokes.

7. Three plasticine shepherds sit around a campfire and smoke a roll-up as trumpet-playing angels hover overhead. "I dunno about you guys," says one shepherd, "but this sheep s*** is really doing my head in."